World AIDS Day always makes for a solemn start to the
year-end holiday festivities. As decorations festoon retail shops, others
recall those long gone from the plague of AIDS.

And yes, it is a plague. Don't take my word for it. See the
two documentaries about AIDS activists, attend a benefit for AIDS/HIV and
anti-bullying causes; light a candle, and know, AIDS is still with us.

Opening lecture and talk with curator Thomas Alleman, who
discusses his exhibit of fascinating new large-print photos from San
Francisco's mid-1980s gay community, from the onslaught of AIDS to nightlife
and arts celebrations. 2pm-5pm. Latino-Hispanic Community Room. Exhibit in the
Jewitt Gallery, (both at the lower level). Exhibit thru Feb 10, 2013. 100
Larkin St. at Grove. www.allemanphoto.comwww.sfpl.org

How to Survive a Plague

Sat 1: How to Survive a Plague
@ Castro Theatre

Screening of the highly-acclaimed documentary about the
Treatment Action Group of ACT UP New York, and their efforts to push AIDS drug
approval. Screening is free, but tickets required; 6pm, followed by a
candlelight vigil in Harvey Milk Plaza, 9pm. 429 Castro St. www.sfaf.org/WorldAIDSDay

Improv theatre company, in a new theatre, performs sketches
through different time periods; a different era and show each night. $10-$20.
Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Dec 22. 533 Sutter St. 322-8738. www.un-scripted.com

Disney's long-running musical (and the highest grossing
Broadway show in history) based on the animated film makes a return to the Bay
Area. $32.50-$150. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm. (closed or different times
for some holidays). Thru Jan. 13, 2013. (888) 746-1799. www.shnsf.com

FREE!LOVE!TOOL!BOX!,
the former Bay Area artist's new exhibit of conceptual and assembled
found-object, personal installations and artworks, each with queer themes,
including a DJ booth with his own large record collection. Special events:
Art historian Richard Meyer's lecture
about queer subculture art, Nov 29, 6:30pm, and Decorative Piercing with Lolita
Wolf and Nayland Blake, also 6:30pm. Nov. 30, Queer Punks in Conversation,
6:30pm. Dec. 1, Drag & Bay Area Personae with Blake and Joel Tan, including
other performers, drag makeovers and a loading dock party with DJ Bus Station
John. Also, Nathalie Djurberg's
amazing colorful creature sculptures. $12-$15. Thru Jan. 27. Yerba Buena Center
for the Arts, 701 Mission St. 979-2787. www.naylandblake.netwww.ybca.org

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink @
Union Square

The popular downtown ice skating rink is open. $5-$10. Open
daily 10am-11:30pm thru Jan 21 (except New Year's Eve; closed at 9:30pm).
Powell St. at www.unionsquareicerink.com

Gustavo Dedamel conducts "A Celebration of Music from
Latin America," a concert of works
in two programs. 8pm. Also Nov 30. 8pm. $30-$175. Bancroft Way at
Telegraph Ave., UC Berkeley campus. (510) 642-9988. www.calperformances.org

Reception, photo exhibit, prize giveaways and more at the book
party for David Sweet and Richard May's photo book about local redheaded men.
7pm. 3036 Mission St. near 24th. www.facebook.com/alleycatbooks

Austrian children and puppets that sing, nuns gone astray and
a drag contest fling; these are a few of my favorite things! Laurie Bushman and
pals host the popular family-friendly event with costume parades, subtitled
lyrics and a pre-show concert of Rodgers & Hammerstein classics played on
the Wurlitzer organ by David Hegarty. $10-$15. 1pm & 7pm thru Dec 2 (no show Dec. 1).
429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

The Submission
@ New Conservatory Theatre Center

Jeff Talbot's sharp play explores racism, affirmative-action
and bias in the theatre world, when a white gay writer submits a play about
life in the projects, and hires an African American actress to pretend to be
the playwright. $25-$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 16. 25 Van Ness Ave.
at Market, lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws: Gay San Francisco,
1985-1988 @ SF Public Library

Opening lecture and talk with curator Thomas Alleman, who
discusses his exhibit of fascinating new large-print photos from San
Francisco's mid-1980s gay community, from the onslaught of AIDS to nightlife
and arts celebrations. 2pm-5pm. Latino-Hispanic Community Room. Exhibit in the
Jewitt Gallery, (both at the lower level). Exhibit thru Feb 10, 2013. 100
Larkin St. at Grove. www.allemanphoto.comwww.sfpl.org

Screening of the highly-acclaimed documentary about the
Treatment Action Group of ACT UP New York, and their efforts to push AIDS drug
approval. Screening is free, but tickets required; 6pm, followed by a
candlelight vigil in Harvey Milk Plaza, 9pm. 429 Castro St. www.sfaf.org/WorldAIDSDay

Jason Brock @ Martuni's

The local singer and X Factor contestant returns to the SF for a concert of pop and holiday songs at
the intimate martini bar; Dee Spencer accompanies. $20. 7pm. Also Dec 2 & 4. 4
Valencia St. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/299974

Jason Brock

Jasper Johns, Jay DeFeo
@ SF MOMA

Two exhibits of the American artists' works. Thru Feb 3. Also,
Paul Klee's Circus, Alessandro Pessoli,
and other works and ongoing Modern art exhibits. Free-$18. 151 3rd St. at
Mission. Thu-Tue 11am-5:45pm (8:45 Thursdays). 357-4000. www.sfmoma.org

Group exhibit of visually compelling photos of San Francisco's
well- and least-known parks. McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan St. at Fell. Photos
also on exhibit at the Harvey Milk Center (50 Scott St.) and the Parks
Emergency Aid Station (811 Stanyan St.). Thru Nov. 30.
554-8919. www.harveymilkphotocenter.org

Phantoms of Asia
@ Asian Art Museum

Exhibit of bold contemporary art with perspectives on life,
death, nature and other themes. $12-$15. 200 Larkin St. 581-3500. www.asianart.org

Royal Treasures from the
Louvre @ Legion of Honor

Exhibit of decorative arts, most never seen in the U.S., from
the riegns of Louis XIV to Marie-Antoinette, from the Musee du Louvre, Paris.
Free-$20. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. Thru March 17. Lincoln Park, 34th Ave and
Clement St. www.legionofhonor.org

The William S. Paley Collection: A Taste for Modernism
@ de Young Museum

New exhibit of varied and little seen Modern Art works
collected by the New York art patron with a diverse taste, including paintings
by Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and others. Also, This
World Is Not My Home: Photographs by Danny Lyon, thru Jan. 27. $10-$20. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. (til 8:45pm Fridays) Thru
Dec. 30. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. 750-3600.
www.famsf.org

Women我們
@ Chinese Cultural Center

Exhibit of video works, installation art, photography,
sculpture, and more by a diverse array of LGBTQ artists including Mu Xi, Yang
Meiyan, He Chengyao, and other emerging artists based in China as well as five
U.S.-based artists, among them Man Yee Lam and Stella Zhang. Tue-Sat 10am-4pm. Thru
Dec. 15. 750 Kearny St., 3rd floor (inside the Hilton Hotel). 986-1822. www.c-c-c.org

Xavier MTW @ Glamarama

Foucault at the Food Co.,
a whimsical visual story exhibit by a new local gay artist, at the fab hair
salon. Thru Jan. 5, 2013. 304 Valencia St. www.glamarama.com

Opening reception for an exhibit of landscape and pet
paintings by the local gay artist. Sales benefit the artist and the CCC; pet
portrait commissions also available. 12pm-2pm. Exhibit through Jan 18. 4058
18th St. www.DavidBarnettArt.comwww.CastroCountryClub.org

Join GLBT hikers for a 9-mile hike from Rodeo Beach
through the Marin Headlands mostly along the Coastal Trail to the Golden Gate
Bridge, Bring water, lunch, layers, hat, sunscreen, good shoes/boots, money for
Muni and for optional cafe stop. Meet on the Muni 76 bus route that leaves
at 9:30am from 4th & Townsend and arrives at 10:23am at Rodeo Beach.
794-2275. www.sfhiking.com

Donna Sachet and Harry Denton host the weekly fabulous brunch
and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St.
in Union Square. 395-8595. www.harrydenton.com

Toys for Tots @ St. Regis Hotel

Large annual party and donation event. Bring one or more new
unwrapped toy(s) to be donated to local kids' nonprofits. Festive holiday attir
(no jeans, tennis shoes). Cash bar. 4pm-7pm. Thurd St. at Mission. RSVP: ToysForTots.SF@gmail.com

Fascinating exhibit of rarely seen prints, paintings,
sculptures and a few of the more known drawings by Theodor Geisel, the
author/illustrator of the immensely popular children's books. Ongoing, with
updates and new items. 351A Geary St. 391-1948. www.dennisraefineart.com

Art With Elders @
City Hall

Large group exhibit of works by 90 artists in 30+ local arts
programs, all seniors with a lengthy life perspective. Thru Jan. 4. Reg hours
Mon-Fri 8am-8pm. Ground floor, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. www.sfgov.org

Exhibit of beautiful sheet music and artwork from 1849 -1930s,
all with California themes; curated James M. Keller, the exhibit includes a few
subtly gay and historically transgender subjects. $2.50-$50. Wed-Fri 10am-4pm.
First Saturdays 10am-4pm. Thru Dec. 7. 300 Fourth St. 957-1849. www.californiapioneers.org/singing_the_golden_state.html

United in Anger: The History of ACT UP

United in Anger: The History of ACT UP
@ Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley

A talented cast and musicians lead the way singing favorite
show tunes from Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sondheim, Lerner and Loewe, Kander and
Ebb and, of course, the mighty Gershwins, too. $15-$30. 8pm. 3200 California
St. at Presidio. 292-1233. www.jccsf.org

Group exhibition of fascinating photos from 1936-1951 taken by
members of the progressive collective that documented the eras of postwar
struggles, McCarthy blacklists, and urban life. Other exhibits ongoing. Free
(members)-$12. Thu-Tue 11am-5pm (Thu 1pm-8pm) 736 Mission St. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

San Francisco Magic Parlor @ Chancellor Hotel

Whimsical Belle Epoque-style sketch and magic show that also
includes historical San Francisco stories; hosted by Walt Anthony. with
optional pre-show light dinner and desserts. $40. Thu-Sat 8pm. 433 Powell St. www.SFMagicParlor.com

SantaConcert

SantaConcert @ Davies Hall

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performs their annual holiday
concert, with the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (formal first half) and a special
edition of lots and lots of Santas! $25-$27. 8pm. 201 Van Ness Ave. Also Dec 24
at 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St. www.sfgmc.org